Lots of birds missing in a short time.. what could it be?

[spikennipper]

So they were lost during the day when they were free ranging I take it? just the hens no roos? this sounds more like theft to me

I take it you were out at the time? giving eggs to neighbours is all well and good but they just have to talk to other people and word gets around that you have chickens... in any case I would not use snares, I understand your frustration at the culprits involved but snares are horrid things and cause alot of suffering to whatever may get caught, it may be better to set a cam up as you suggested and see what you are dealing with here first and then take action appropriately.

 

[Oregon Blues]

We don't have foxes here. Also, I said it was probably a coyote or raccoon.

Beg to differ. There are foxes in the PNW.

You can't get far enough from civilization anywhere in Oregon that someone can't find you. So you can't rule out people.

Coyotes are trotting around Portland in broad daylight and there are definitely skunks, weasels, fisher cats, and escaped ferrets. Also otters.

Dogs can cover multiple miles while they are roaming, and I don't believe you don't have any loose dogs withing 3-4 miles of your house. Some dogs are located 20 miles from their homes. They can cover some ground if the are in the mood.

If you are at the end of the road in a country setting, you are probably getting unwanted cats dumped at your driveway. Some cats will kill poultry, especially after they get hungry.

I see that you have reinforced the coop and are keeping the chickens in. That is all you can do until you identify the culprit. A game cam would be useful, in your case.

 

[Oregon Blues]

Also, it's not unusual to have black bears and cougars wandering right through the middle of residential areas in Portland. Those guys will eat chickens.